I would have guessed a certain English fellow who had a collision with an apple, but I think he was too early. He would have had a bit of an unfair advantage if he was coordinated. :-)
Anyway, along those lines...
Who was the richest man in America in 1775?
Long ago I heard an answer, but it turns out to have been incorrect. The answer I heard was George Washington. He was up there, but not the richest by any means. (Him being the richest would have helped feed some nice conspiracy theories though!)
[link|http://www.raken.com/american_wealth/encyclopedia/1775.asp|Answer].
4 millionaires are listed. Washinton's not among them.
Cheers,
Scott.